Stay Up to Date On CPSIA!

Thank you to all those who joined us in chat and tuned in for our CPSIA 'Party'. While we know the fight is FAR, FAR from over, we at BHR wanted to show our thanks and support to everyone who has fought so long and hard for us! Several people have gone FAR and ABOVE the call of duty to help fight CPSIA and save not only handmade, but small business, and our rights as consumers, parents and ARTISTS!!

(If you do not know what the CPSIA is, FEEL FREE To email me at ANY TIME! Amy, (aka, Mama) can be found at mama@blockheadradio.com or mamaslittlemonkeys@yahoo.com If I cannot answer your question (which is very possible..) I will know where to refer you to though!!)

If you need to know ANYTHING about CPSIA, the following sites should be on the top of your 'stay up to date' lists!! Most, if not all, of these sites have ways for you to subscribe and get updates in your emails.

Rob Wilson and crew at www.cpsia-central.ning.com Join this community and make your own Ning page. Stay up to date, videos, blogs, and more! You can also find him on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/challengeandfun

Rick Woldenberg and crew at Learning Resources Site and Rick's Blog. Great blog posts, videos, and a strong fighter against CPSIA. Chances are if you need a contact for anyone...check Rick's blog...he has it! :) Rick is also on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rwoldenberg

Dan Marshall and crew at Handmade Toy Alliance. Here you can find a video made by your very own Amy the Awesome Possum, contacts, how you can help, businesses in alliance, and more! There are also many more links on the sidebar of this site to help you navigate your way! There is also a Facebook page for Handmade Toy Alliance.

CPSIA-Compliant Suppliers Blog. BHR cannot verify the validity of any of these suppliers, however we share the link with you because perhaps that will help you in buying your supplies for your own handmade work or families!

Kathleen at Fashion Incubator, keeps us up to date on all things CPSIA...as well as my fave part...SEWING goodness! :) Also run by Kathleen is National Bankruptcy Day. Kathleen can also be found on Twitter. http://twitter.com/kfasanella

Walter Orson from Overlawyered continually eloquently and professional puts into words what we all feel! Find Walter on Twitter: http://twitter.com/overlawyered

Contact the CPSC here about CPSIA.

CoolMomPicks has some helpful info also as well as the super cute bear badge you can have!


Obviously there are MANY more working to fight this, but this should get you going!! :)


HOWEVER, remember the CPSC cannot CHANGE anything about the CPSIA. Who can? YOUR lawmakers!! It is up to YOU to contact them, any way you can!! Find them ALL at www.house.gov If all you can send is a form letter, that's fine. But remember phone calls, snail mail letters and faxes work better than emails. In fact, most of the time you cannot email any representatives out of your district/area. So go ahead, Blockhead Radio gives you permission to kill some trees and WRITE YOUR LAWMAKERS!!

This CAN be changed but it is up to YOU!!!!!


Feel Free to snag this widget off The Possum's Personal Blog.
http://blog.mamaslittlemonkeys.com

Have you seen Cafe Handmade yet?

Ok, I admit, I was lured in by the possibility that coffee may have been involved.

Although there was no coffee...it was a lovely surprise to find this great site! http://cafehandmade.blogspot.com/

This super cool blog features handmade artisans and hosts what one would call a Virtual Craft Show! There is an EXCELLENT variety of artisans and types of crafts/art.

There are links for Featured Artists, Mommaprenuer, Scavenger Hunt, Weekly Giveaways, Artist Directories and More!!



Want to be involved in the Weekly Craft Show? Then visit this link:
join our virtual craft show

Learn a little bit about the mad scientists behind Cafe Handmade Len and Kerri, HERE!

So check them out, say hello and tell them Blockhead Radio sent you! You never know what goodies you'll find!

And you can NEVER have enough handmade in your life!!

Are You Ready for a Party?

Then mark your calender, chill the bubbly and come on over on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 8pm Eastern!

We're having a "Thank You" party for EVERYONE who has worked so hard to fight CPSIA! It is an especially big thank you for some hard working people who have gone OVER and BEYOND the call of duty to fight CPSIA for handmade artists everywhere!

What IS CPSIA? Well, the words needed to describe it are not appropriate for Blockhead Radio....

If you need to find out about CPSIA simply go to these sites:

CPSIA Central

Handmade Toy Alliance

National Bankruptcy Day


Invite EVERYONE, and come on in, have a drink, listen to some tunes and take a break! Pat yourselves on the back for your hard work fighting CPSIA, and come chill with us! Because it'll be back to work Monday morning!

We also hope to have some special guests in chat, and encourage you to call in!

Oh...and it's BYOB....sorry...still can't figure out how to send you all martinis......

www.blockheadradiolive.com



**no spam. Ever. Or the chipmunk gets it.**

Thirsty Thursday, Random Poll

Yes, folks, it is ALMOST Friday! That means just one more day until you can kick back, relax and take a break! What? You don't do that on the weekend? Well, my friends, you need to try to take a break and chill for just a little while every weekend!!

So, with that thought in mind...

Informal poll......

What is your FAVORITE drink!? It doesn't have to be alcoholic (though those are always welcome.) but what is your favorite beverage of choice?

We have a few favorites around here on BHR.

Appletini's.....

Rum and Cokes....

Wine...ask Blockhead Rod about that one...

And of course this flows through all our veins here at Blockhead Radio...COFFEE


And naturally one must stay nice and hydrated with water, teas, juices and other lovely beverages.

But touch my coffee and you'll not live to tell about it...

Sooooo, what can we serve you here at Blockhead Radio? Okay, so technically it's BYOB here, BUT we would love to partake of said beverages with you!!

These will be ESPECIALLY handy when we have our little shindig on Feb. 22nd, 8pm. It's a little "thank you party" for all those who have worked hard to fight against CPSIA, and a sort of 'dang it, let's have fun already' get together! So bring the chips and dip and come on by!! www.blockheadradiolive.com

For more information about CPSIA you can visit:
www.cpsia-central.ning.com
www.handmadetoyalliance.org
www.nationalbankruptcyday.com
http://twitter.com/rwoldenberg

Breaking CPSIA News, Via www.etsy.com

We are so excited to announce that the Commission has voted for a "Stay of Enforcement of Certain Testing and Certification Requirements of CPSIA" — which means that the burden of lead testing and certification has been suspended for a year while they take more time to review the rules and plan enforcement! All of your hard work has paid off (for the time being at least!). You don't have to pay to do the certification and testing, though you are still liable if your products are found to have lead. We are so pleased that artisans and vintage sellers got their voices heard. Your hard work is not over; we must continue to play a role in advocating for small business people throughout the coming year.

"The action taken today provides breathing space to get in place some of the rules needed for implementation, but it should not be viewed as a full solution to the many problems that have been raised." —U.S. Consumer product Safety Commission

You'll find the press release below:

CPSC Grants One Year Stay of Testing and Certification Requirements for Certain Products

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously (2-0) to issue a one year stay of enforcement for certain testing and certification requirements for manufacturers and importers of regulated products, including products intended for children 12 years old and younger. These requirements are part of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which added certification and testing requirements for all products subject to CPSC standards or bans.

Significant to makers of children’s products, the vote by the Commission provides limited relief from the testing and certification requirements which go into effect on February 10, 2009 for new total lead content limits (600 ppm), phthalates limits for certain products (1000 ppm), and mandatory toy standards, among other things. Manufacturers and importers – large and small – of children’s products will not need to test or certify to these new requirements, but will need to meet the lead and phthalates limits, mandatory toy standards and other requirements.

The decision by the Commission gives the staff more time to finalize four proposed rules which could relieve certain materials and products from lead testing and to issue more guidance on when testing is required and how it is to be conducted.

The stay will remain in effect until February 10, 2010, at which time a Commission vote will be taken to terminate the stay.

The stay does not apply to:

• Four requirements for third-party testing and certification of certain children’s products subject to:

  • The ban on lead in paint and other surface coatings effective for products made after December 21, 2008;

  • The standards for full-size and non full-size cribs and pacifiers effective for products made after January 20, 2009;

  • The ban on small parts effective for products made after February 15, 2009; and

  • The limits on lead content of metal components of children’s jewelry effective for products made after March 23, 2009.

• Certification requirements applicable to ATV’s manufactured after April 13, 2009.

• Pre-CPSIA testing and certification requirements, including for: automatic residential garage door openers, bike helmets, candles with metal core wicks, lawnmowers, lighters, mattresses, and swimming pool slides; and

• Pool drain cover requirements of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act.

The stay of enforcement provides some temporary, limited relief to the crafters, children’s garment manufacturers and toy makers who had been subject to the testing and certification required under the CPSIA. These businesses will not need to issue certificates based on testing of their products until additional decisions are issued by the Commission. However, all businesses, including, but not limited to, handmade toy and apparel makers, crafters and home-based small businesses, must still be sure that their products conform to all safety standards and similar requirements, including the lead and phthalates provisions of the CPSIA.

Handmade garment makers are cautioned to know whether the zippers, buttons and other fasteners they are using contain lead. Likewise, handmade toy manufacturers need to know whether their products, if using plastic or soft flexible vinyl, contain phthalates.

The stay of enforcement on testing and certification does not address thrift and second hand stores and small retailers because they are not required to test and certify products under the CPSIA. The products they sell, including those in inventory on February 10, 2009, must not contain more than 600 ppm lead in any accessible part. The Commission is aware that it is difficult to know whether a product meets the lead standard without testing and has issued guidance for these companies that can be found on our Web site.

The Commission trusts that State Attorneys General will respect the Commission's judgment that it is necessary to stay certain testing and certification requirements and will focus their own enforcement efforts on other provisions of the law, e.g. the sale of recalled products.

Please visit the CPSC Web site at www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html for more information on all of the efforts being made to successfully implement the CPSIA.

---Reposted from: http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/breaking-news-the-cpsia-manditory-testing-certification-has--3347/

CPSIA Blog-In

As parents and concerned citizens I'm sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That's okay though, there's always television. Our children don't need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won't be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. "Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe." http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn't been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

www.cpsia-central.ning.com
www.handmadetoyalliance.org
www.nationalbankruptcyday.com

CPSIA Where are we at and what is going to happen.

Last nights show went very well. As of now it is still the same. On 2/10/09 if you manufacture items marketed to children 12 years and younger it MUST be tested for lead content prior to selling it.

That's where we are at right now. The CPSC completed it first stage of rule making yesterday. I still have not received an update nor have found any posting on the vote. As soon as I do I will pass the information along. Please remember the CPSC is only trying to follow what was given to them. They are aware of the implications that this law is going to have on small business's in the U.S.

What can we do. Here is a link to the United States House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Don't just email, call, and write your Representative........contact them all. The spirit of the law was great, but what they formed was too general and they need to revise it.

I'm not letting go of this subject. We will be having a follow up show in a few weeks. At that time I will have a guest from the CPSC on the air and hopefully a member of the House.

Don't give up.....no matter what these people think, they work for us. Let your employee know that you do not agree with what they have done.